It may be time for a new sewing machine.  I bought the TOL Pfaff about 6 years ago, and after numerous repairs, I'm ready to give up - [well, I'd really love to toss it out the window and watch it crash into a zillion pieces, but....]  Not only had the machine cost me about $6K, but it also is costing me about $500 per year in repair costs.  It's ridiculous! A 1926 Singer that my grandmother sewed on still is going strong and works like a charm!  The new machine is a piece of crap!A local dealer told me he would not longer repair it, so now I have to take it to a dealer 75 miles away.  I took it in last week, picked it up on saturday, and it broke on sunday.  This time, the screen went blank, and if it's the mother board, that means a $1K fix.   I spoke to the repair guy yesterday and he agreed that they just don't make them like they used to. 

I do love to do embroidery, but not sure it is worth the cost!  Sew, I'm on the lookout for a new (old) machine for garment sewing that does beautiful buttonholes (another thing my Pfaff does not do well).

The hummingbirds are starting to come back.  We feed them all year long and in the winter (November - January) there are probably about a dozen or so that hang out... well now there is probably twice that many and by summer, there may be upwards of 50 or more!   At the moment, we have 7 feeders which we fill daily.  In the summer months we sometimes fill them 3-4x per day.  If I get more feeders, that would just mean more birds, not less fills.

Here's some photos I took this weekend of my little feathered friends.

Posted by sue at 9:40 AM PST

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Selfish Seamstress is selling these mugs, tees, and bags with cute haikus

http://selfishseamstress.wordpress.com/2010/01/13/haikus-for-haiti/

and donating up to $200 of the proceeds 

This is my new work mug...  love it!

Posted by sue at 10:09 AM PST

Updated: Friday, January 29, 2010 10:11 AM PST

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 Pattern Description: Loose-fitting, pullover tops have neckline, sleeve and hemline variations. A, B: decorative stitching. C: side panels (no side seams). I do not think this version C of this top is too loose-fitting. I think it fits nicely. I think views A and B are more loose fitting (I made them a year or so ago). View C also has bust darts.

Pattern Sizing: Misses 6-20. I made my usual 12 and i like the fit. No fitting adjustments

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? yes

Were the instructions easy to follow? I liked the instructions. She gives you different top stitching ideas and I like the way the collar is gather with 3 spaced rows of clear elastic. (CB and shoulders).

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I like the shawl gathered collar

Fabric Used: a rayon, poly, knit. Not as soft and drapey as a rayon knit.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: the side panels are a tad longer than the front and back and I ended up cutting those off to make the hem even. No other changes

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes. It's a nice tee pattern. the fit in the shoulders is nice (I have small shoulders) and the collar goes together well. It is a bit on the longer side. I used a regular straight stitch for the hem and wish I would have used my usual slight zig zag (1 widith; 2 length) as it would have had a bit more give/stretch. Or I should have used a double needle or cover stitch as suggested! The sleeves are really interesting as the side panels also act as gussets (I think thats the word) under the arms. You can see different variations of this top at Marcy's website.

Posted by sue at 10:58 AM PST

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These past 2 days after work, I've sewn up 4 tops. Last weekend, I spent Sunday cutting out a bunch of things, getting ready to sew them up.   I like to cut as much as I can at the same time and make my big cutting mess in the dining room, put the room back together, and then go sew.  This method also allows me to organize my sewing by thread color, so for instance, I'm working on all the things that are white at the moment. [I hate threading and re-threading a serger]

Not everything I make works, for one reason or another... in fact, I'd say about 70% works, the remainder either goes to one of my sisters or to the "goodwill" bag.  The reasons that things don't work are varied: wrong fabric for pattern, too small, too big, not a flattering style, or not what I imagined.  But it's ok, it's the process of sewing that I really enjoy. 

Sew, for this week, so far, here's a run down... 

The Good:

Vogue 8582 with an assymetrical hem and a twisted neckband.  I love Marcy Tilton patterns and this one is another winner.  I've previously made it up in black and used a stretch mesh for the neckband, this time I used some white and the twisted neckband version.  

Pattern is here http://voguepatterns.mccall.com/v8582-products-9970.php?page_id=866&search_control=display&list=search

For more inspiration, check out Marcy's website and her tee shirt gallery http://www.marcytilton.com/index.php?cid=194

you'll see how she incorporates different fabrics, styles, and ideas.  

The Bad:

Hot Patterns Goddess tee, the cowl version.  it's rather lifeless on me and just way too much fabric!  It went together really easily and I love the way the back neckband is constructed, but it is just too overwhelming on me. This will be given to one of my sisters who I think it may look great on.

Recently, at Fabric.com, they had a huge clearance on Vera Wang fabrics from her Lavender collection ..... and yes, my stash grew during this clearance - at $1.98 a  yard, I had to get lots.  This top is  made from the VW Lux stretch jersey a really soft fabric.  Nice fabric, a little sheer  and clingy, so I decided something less fitted.  I should have made a cami as I first thought with this fabric. I prefer rayon knits for tees.  

The Ugly:

I knew this was going to be bad because I wasn't sure of the fabric when it arrived, but I am committed to using my fabric even if I donate the finished item.  The pattern, Kwik Sew OOP hoodie is one of my favorites (bell sleeves, tunic length, side vents), but the fabric.  Eeek!  way too LOUD.  I bought this fabric online where I just saw a little scrap and didn't realize how much gold was involved.  The fabric is a really nice terry fleece, beautiful blue, but  I just can't do that much metallic!  

This Kwik Sew hoodie is very similar to the BWOF hoodie in the December 2009 magazine which I did a few months back, but the front in the Kwik Sew is just a 1/4" hemmed slit whereas the front in the BWOF is an actual placket. Both are nice finishes.  And if you wanted to make your BWOF easier,  I don't see why you couldn't do this "slit" in the  BWOF.

Here's the BWOF hoodie, also with Juicy Couture fabric, but not nearly as LOUD!

Posted by sue at 10:52 AM PST

Updated: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 9:34 PM PST

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As you can imagine I have made lots of stuff.   Over 95 garments last year to be exact and lots and lots of purses, accessories and stuff.  I give away stuff, or as I like to say, place things in deserving homes. 

Well, last night I was going through my suitcase of purses, purses and totes that have never been used mind you, and there's a lot.  Sew, I'm thinking about opening an Etsy Store and selling them.  Anyone have any experience with Etsy?  Any advice? 

Posted by sue at 4:03 PM PST

Updated: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 4:07 PM PST

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